Egypt: Hundreds arrested as authorities show “paranoia” over protest

"Egypt's security forces arbitrarily arrested hundreds of people ahead of planned protests in Egypt yesterday, said Amnesty International, after large numbers of security forces prevented demonstrators from gathering in Cairo and elsewhere. The Front of Defence for Egyptian Protesters (FDEP) early this morning told Amnesty that they knew of at least 238 people, including foreign nationals, activists and journalists, who were arrested. ... Egypt's Protest Law prohibits protesters from staging demonstrations without the consent of the authorities, and gives security forces sweeping powers to disperse 'unauthorised' demonstrations. In practice, the authorities have facilitated protests by supporters of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, while routinely dispersing demonstrations by his opponents." (04/26/16)